Sociology AQA: Education

Functionalist View

• Key Figures: Durkheim, Parsons, Davis, and Moore
• Concepts:
  • Social Solidarity: Society's norms and values taught through education.
  • Secondary Socialization: Education teaches values, norms, and behaviors expected outside the family.
  • Role Allocation: Education sorts students into future roles, emphasizing skills needed for work life.

Marxist View

• Key Concepts:
  • Ideological State Apparatus: Education reinforces capitalism and reproduces class inequalities by creating false consciousness.
  • Correspondence Principle: Schools mirror the workplace, preparing students for employment through the hidden curriculum (e.g., hierarchies, rewards, punishments).
  • Cultural Capital: Education disadvantages the working class by prioritizing middle-class culture (e.g., speech codes).

New Right Perspective

• Marketization: Schools should operate like businesses, promoting competition to improve standards.
• Parental Choice & School Accountability: Emphasize national identity and shared values.
• Key Figures: Chubb and Moe

Labeling Theory

• Definition: Teacher labels can become part of a student's identity, leading to self-fulfilling prophecies.
• Research Bias: Interviews may not be valid if students are unaware of their labels.

Class Differences in Achievement

• External Factors:
  • Material Deprivation: Lack of resources disadvantaging working-class students.
  • Cultural Deprivation: Lack of access to cultural resources and differing language codes.
  • Parental Influence: Working-class parents may value education less.
• Internal Factors:
  • Labeling: Negative labels can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies.
  • Setting and Streaming: Grouping by ability can lower self-esteem, leading to underachievement.
  • Pupil Subcultures: Some form anti-school subcultures.
  • Marketization: 'Cream-skimming' benefits middle-class students.

Gender Differences in Achievement

Internal Factors

• Equal Opportunities: Policies promoting gender equality in education.
• Role Models: Increasing female employment inspires ambition in girls.
• Coursework: Girls perform better due to maturity and organization.
• Teacher Attention: Girls seen as cooperative, leading to positive outcomes.
• Challenging Stereotypes: Removal of outdated gender roles in educational materials.
• League Tables: Schools favor high-performing girls.

External Factors

• Feminism: Empowerment and increased career opportunities for women.
• Family Changes: More women as breadwinners, affecting career focus.
• Employment Changes: Gender equality in employment motivates educational effort.

Impact of Globalization on Education

• Competition: International league tables pressure UK education to improve.
• Migration & Multiculturalism: Diverse student bodies prompt curriculum adaptation.
• Borrowing Policies: UK adopts educational practices from successful countries.
• Skill Demands: Emphasis on IT and knowledge-based skills.
• Evaluation: Awareness of cultures and best practices shared, but increased inequality and pressure.

Subject Choice by Gender

• Gender Role Socialization: Early socialization influences subject preference.
• Gender Identities in School: Subject stereotypes affect enrollment.
• Peer Pressure: Conformity to gender roles impacts choice.

Ethnic Differences in Achievement

• External Factors:
  • Cultural Deprivation: Lack of role models and parental support.
  • Material Deprivation: Higher poverty rates in certain ethnic groups.
  • Racism: Societal racism affects self-esteem and opportunities.
• Internal Factors:
  • Labeling: Ethnic minorities labeled negatively, influencing achievement.
  • Curriculum: Often ignores diverse cultures.
  • Institutional Racism: Limited access to opportunities.

Educational Policies

• Note: Specific policies not detailed in the lecture. Review separately if needed for exams.

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Study Tip: Familiarize yourself with key sociologists and their theories. Practice applying these theories to real-world scenarios and past exam questions.